USA > New York > Yates County > The military history of Yates County, N.Y. : comprising a record of the services rendered by citizens of this county in the army and navy, from the foundation of the government to the present time > Part 14
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II.
EXTRACT FROM THE COUNTY TREASURER'S REPORT FOR 1865.
I have prepared the following statement of the number of men fur- nished by Yates County since the commencement of the war; also the amount paid by the county, as bounties, aid to families of volunteers, en- listing fees, interest on bonds, and the incidental expenses connected with and incurred therein; also the present indebtedness and financial condition of the county. And in presenting this report of the prompt and ready response of our citizens to the calls of the Government for men, and by the noble and heroic work performed by the soldiers, who so cheerfully responded to those calls, I am satisfied that this report will compare favorably with the active and present financial condition of any locality in the State.
The whole number of men furnished by Yates County since the com- mencement of the war is 2, 109.
Amount of Bounty paid by the County $614,880 00
Amount of Enlisting Fees . 23,365 00
Amount of Volunteer Aid . 18,207 00
Amount of Interest paid on Bonds
19,752 95
Amount of Incidental Expenses
4,241 68
$680,446 63
Of this amount there has been paid by :
Tax of 1862
$30,000
Tax of 1863
28,000
Tax of 1864
122,369
Extra Tax of 1865
80,000
$260,369
$260,369 00
$420,077 63
Received from the State of New York bonds and cash . 191,400 00
$228,677 63
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THE MILITARY HISTORY OF YATES COUNTY.
Of this amount there is due, February 15th, after de- ducting New York State bonds and cash on land . . 100,321 63
Interest on whole amount of bonds up to February 15, 1866. 18,593 05
Due February 15, 1866
$118,914 68
Due February 15, 1867
$110,832 00
Interest to February 15, 1867
8,984 92
Due February 15, 1867
$119,816 92
Due February 15, 1868
$17,524 00
Interest to February 15, 1868
1,227 68
Due February 15, 1868
$18,751 68
This will make a tax of 11/2 per cent. each year for 1865 and 1866, and the ordinary county tax, added of about 114 per cent., would give us a county tax of 234 per cent., or about the same as the tax of the past win- ter, excluding the extra tax of Marelı, 1865. So the whole war debt of Yates County is only about three per cent. on the taxable property of the county, and is all, or nearly all, payable a year from next February. So much for the financial condition of Little Yates. Nobly has she responded to the calls made upon her by the Government. She was ever ready to sustain by her men, her votes, and her money. And now let us not be unmindful of the debt we owe to those brave men, who are returning to their homes, after having suffered and endured the toils and privations of war. Let us give them a hearty welcome, ever remembering that when our hearts were made glad with the news of victory, that these are the men, who, by their courage and bravery, helped gain that victory. And to them we owe a debt of gratitude that we should not soon forget. Aud to the relatives of those who have so nobly fallen while battling for the right, shall we not remember that our duty to them is not in idle words, but in acts that shall remind them that husband, father, brother, or son fell in a righteous cause, and a grateful people will revere their memory? JAMES BURNS, Treasurer.
III. REPORT OF THE VOLUNTEER COMMITTEE.
To the Honorable the Board of Supervisors of Yates County:
GENTLEMEN :- Your committee, appointed under resolutions of the Board passed December 31, 1864, and also resolutions passed at subsequent meetings, to superintend the payment of bounties to volunteers, also the payment of enlisting fees or hand money, and other incidental expenses incurred therein by authority of said resolutions, would respectfully re- port that there were 233 men enlisted and credited to the different towns in the county under the last call. Of this number 204 enlisted for three years, and were paid a bounty of $600 eacli ; 4 enlisted for two years, and were paid $400 each; 22 enlisted for one year, and were paid $300 each ; and 3 enlisted as officers, receiving no bounty, but were paid the enlist-
155
THE MILITARY HISTORY OF YATES COUNTY.
ing fees. The total amount paid for bounties was $130,600, the amount paid for enlisting fees, or hand money, was $16,830. Your committee would further report that the $130,600, paid for bounties, has been re- funded to the county by the State; also the sum of $61,400 has been re- ceived for excess of years of service on former calls. The county has thus realized a benefit for her prompt and efficient action under former calls, not only in readily filling her quotas, but also for the liberal induce- ments offered for three years' service. Your committee would further report that the quota of every town in the county on the last call was filled, or nearly filled, when the order was received to stop recruiting, as no more men were wanted. Yates County, when called on for men or money, was not found wanting. Your committee would further report that bonds were issued by the Treasurer of the county, for the purposes set forth in the resolutions of the Board, to the amount of $148,730. Of this amount there is due and payable February 15th, 1866, $79,559, and interest ; February 15th, 1867, $49,897, and interest ; February 15th, 1868, $17,524, and interest, and $1,750, borrowed, and payable 30 days from date. Your committee, in closing their report, would call the attention of the Board, and also the people of the county, to the fact that all frauds, false credits, and other wrongs, whereby counties have been imposed upon by fictitious credits, and the Government defrauded thereby, Yates County, by dealing directly with the soldier, has avoided. The bounties have been paid to the volunteer, and not to scalpers and scoundrels, who have grown rich out of this worse than human traffic. Your committee would also take this opportunity to express their thanks to the Provost- Marshal of this district, Captain Remer, and also to the other members of the Board of Enrollment, for their kind and gentlemanly treatment, and for the honorable and fair manner which we have always been dealt with. And we would also take this opportunity to thank the members of the Board of Supervisors for their liberality and kindness. On all occa- sions we have found them ever ready to respond to the calls of the Gov- ernment and working for the best interests of the county, and we feel that they have reason to be proud of the work of the county and its pres- ent financial condition. We have no war debt running longer than two years from next February, and only a small amount after one year from that time-3 per cent. on the assessed valuation would pay the whole war debt of the county-and the war is over, effectually closed. Yates County has performed her duty faithfully, and her labors have not been in vain. We congratulate the Board of Supervisors and the county that the rebel- lion is among the things of the past, the call for men to sustain the Union and the glory of the old flag is heard no more, the occasion for them is past, the labors of your committee are closed. Faithfully have they tried to perform the responsible duties entrusted to thein. They have consid- ered all portions of the county as having a common interest, and have endeavored to deal alike with all. If they have erred, it has been the error of judgment and not of intentional wrong. Their record is before
156
THE MILITARY HISTORY OF YATES COUNTY.
you. That it will meet with your approbation, and also the approbation of the citizens of Yates County, is the earnest wish of your committee.
Very respectfully submitted,
JAMES BURNS, Treasurer. JOHN C. SCHEETZ, LEWIS B. GRAHAM,
Committee.
IV.
SOLDIERS' MONUMENT IN BENTON.
The town of Benton furnished one hundred and thirty-one soldiers for the War for the Union, of whom thirty-eight sacrificed their lives in the service. Shortly after the close of the war, a movement was set on foot among the returned soldiers and other residents of Benton to erect a mon- nment to the memory of the men who enlisted from this town. An asso- ciation was at length established, called the "Monument Association," of which the first officers were as follows: William J. Pool, President ; Walter W. Becker, Secretary ; John D. Pool, Treasurer. As a means of raising funds for the necessary expense of erecting the monnment, festi- vals and donation parties were at intervals held, and subscriptions were also solicited. Among the residents who were active in soliciting funds by subscription, the late Samuel H. Chapman is entitled to particular mention. The efforts of the association to establish a fitting memorial were after several years crowned with success, and the first soldiers' mon- ument erected in Yates County was dedicated with appropriate ceremo- nies at Benton Center on the afternoon of Saturday, June 15, 1895.
The orator of the day was the Hon. Hanford Struble, who rode with various prominent residents of Peun Yan to Benton Center in the car- riage once owned by Jemima Wilkinson, the "Universal Friend." When they arrived at Benton Center the party was escorted to the speaker's stand by mounted marshals. The speaker's stand was beautifully decor- ated with flags and floral emblems. The address by Judge Struble was particularly eloquent, and contained many fitting references to the pa- triotismi evinced in the town of Benton during the late civil strife. The programme included singing by the male quartette, and recitations by Miss Maud Swarthout, J. Stuart McAlpine, Miss Alice Pool, and Thomas Baxter. The unveiling of the monument, the dedication ceremony, and the decoration service were very impressive. The weather was fine and a large gathering of people was in attendance, including many members of the Grand Army of the Republic in uniform.
The monument is of Barre granite, and the work was executed by F. R. Jenkins, of Penn Yan. As erected it stands in the spacious park in front of the Methodist Episcopal Church on Maple Street. On the side of the monument facing the east appears an elegant sculptured design, rep- resenting two army muskets crossed, with bayonets affixed, also a knap- sack, canteen, and the badge of the Second Corps. Ou the same side is the following inscription :
·
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THE MILITARY HISTORY OF YATES COUNTY.
IN MEMORY OF THE SOLDIERS OF THIS VICINITY. 1861-1865.
The names of the deceased soldiers of Benton who are buried else- where than within the limits of the town are inscribed on the north and south sides of the monument as follows: On the north side-Robert Pool, Charles Benedict, 126th N. Y. Vols .; Henry Soles, 179th N. Y. Vols .; Charles E. Chapman, 33d N. Y. Vols .; Charles Kirkham, IIth Pa. Cav. On the south side-George B. Alvord, George Feagles, Charles E. Willis, Norman Pettit, 148th N. Y. Vols .; Miles Hodge, Jacob Hodge, Llewellyn Baxter, 22d Cav., N. Y. Vols. The monument has a rustic base, and is surmounted by a highly finished ball, representing a cannon ball.
The committee of arrangements, who had the erection of the monu- ment and its dedication in charge, were as follows: Walter W. Becker, John D. Pool, William J. Pool, Elizur Tears, Russell Chapman, James B. McAlpine, Hugh A. Roe, Benjamin Briggs, Rev. O. A. Retan, pastor of the Methodist Episcopal Church; Rev. B. R. Smith, pastor of the Baptist Church; Mrs. Emma Lee, Miss Mary Chapman, and Miss Alice Pool. The decorative committee comprised the following young ladies: Wini- fred Reeves, Mary Lown, Adaline Wright, Jennie Bush, Maud Arnold, Ella Pool, Clara Pool, Flora Watson, Josephine McAlpine, Carrie Soles, Edna Palmatier, and Margaret Lovejoy.
ERRATA.
On Page 9, 34th line, for "south part," read "greater part."
On Page 12, 35th line, for "Azariah Finch," read "Captain Azariah Finch.
On Page 13, 9th line, for "Thomas Lee, Jr.," read "Colonel Thomas Lee, Jr."
On Page 13, 9th line, for "Sherman Lee," read " Major Sherman Lee."
On Page 31, 35tlı line, for "Tuesday, April 19th," read "Wednesday, April 19th.
On Page 45, 19th line, for "Henry Reppinger," read "Henry Peppin- ger."
On Page 133, 29th and 38th lines, for "Joseph S. Thayer," read "Joseph J. Thayer."
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